Time Blaster

Description

An ATMega 328 based IR blaster which is connected to the Fri3d 2020 badge to get it's power and data. Converting the campgrounds into a battleground for those who are playing along and those who don't. The blaster had basic features you expect from a lasertag style gun. Some lights, buzzer, IR receivers and of course a IR transmitter.

Since this kit is design to be cost optimized and hand soldered the majority of the board is made from readily available Through Hole components. To get a fully working blaster, you only need to solder the TH parts. The SMD WS2812 RGB LEDs can be added for fun light effects. If you want to convert the blaster in a Arduino comptible development board, the SOIC CH340C can be soldered with you choice of USB-B , Micro USB or USB-C connector (depending on your solder skills!)

Once the USB connector is added, the board can easily be converted for standalone use by adding a USB battery pack and modifying the firmware.

Files

Fri3d-TimeBlaster-Grip.stp

stp - 10.24 MB - 07/28/2022 at 07:27

Download

Fri3d-Grip-Right.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 4.77 MB - 07/28/2022 at 07:27

Download

Fri3d-Grip-Left.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 5.03 MB - 07/28/2022 at 07:27

Download

Components

1 × Atmega328p Microprocessors, Microcontrollers, DSPs / ARM, RISC-Based Microcontrollers

2 × IRM-3638N3F14 Infrared Receiver 38 kHz 45° 2.7-5.5V

1 × IR LED 850nm

1 × IR LED 940nm

1 × WS2812b 5mm LED

Project Logs

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Packaged and ready for camp!
Wim Van Gool • 08/04/2022 at 07:00 • 0 comments

All blasters now have pre-programmed microcontrollers, got a nice small manual explaining the basics and are fully packaged for Fri3d Camp!
We will have stock available during camp, so drop by the shop to get yours if you didn't pre-order!
3D Printed Grip
Wim Van Gool • 07/28/2022 at 07:42 • 0 comments

Thomas Pilkington from FabLab Leuven designed a grip you can print at home and screw on the blaster making it more comfortable. The model includes holes for both left- and righthanded versions as wel as holes for both USB-C as USB-B connectors (which are optional). The grip is screwed on using two M4x25 hex bolts and nuts. The files are available on this page and will be posted to the Github repository and can be printed as-is, or modified to your own design.
PCBs have arrived!
Wim Van Gool • 02/23/2022 at 10:52 • 0 comments

Thanks to our partner AQC we just received the boards, now it's time to start packaging the kits.
OSHWA Certified
Wim Van Gool • 01/26/2022 at 20:34 • 0 comments

The blaster has just been certified by the OSHWA. The ID is BE000005.
Meanwhile the gerbers have been sent off to the PCB production plant for the first batch!
Infrared range
hans polders • 03/11/2020 at 16:46 • 0 comments

We succeeded in transmitting data over a range of 32 meter.
Aiming the blasters became impractical at a range of about 25 meters.
Read more »
Bigger handle
Wim Van Gool • 01/23/2020 at 08:56 • 0 comments

Since the blaster is designed for kids, adults might feel the handle as being a bit too cramped. Luka made a mockup for a lasercut handle built out of 3mm thick material and using some wooden skewers to assemble it.
This design will be refined with the next revision of the hardware and will also be converted into a 3D printable model with snaps / screw holes so everyone can make their own handle and modify it to fit their needs.
Revision 01 updates
Wim Van Gool • 01/14/2020 at 19:21 • 0 comments

So we started on the next revision of the blaster. Mainly we'll be increasing the solderability of the finer pitch through hole parts (TO-92 and 5mm WS2812 LED) and increasing the pads of the SMD parts for the same reason.

One of the new features added will be the choice of USB connector. Currently only a USB-B was foreseen, since it's really easy to solder and the minimum SMD pitch would be 1.27mm, perfect for the beginner in SMD soldering. But by popular demand we added the Micro USB, with 0.65mm pitch, and USB C 16pins with 0.5mm pitch. For the Micro USB connector we made sure to source one that does not have metal at the backside, reducing the chance of creating a solder bridge between the casing and the pins and making sure that the heat of the solder iron goes towards the pin and not the casing. We do run the risk of some molten connectors, but we'll make sure to have some spare ones available on site.

Micro USB connector back side

USB C connector back side
RGB test
Wim Van Gool • 12/10/2019 at 07:35 • 0 comments

After burning the Arduino bootloader, a quick test was uploaded and so far the LEDs seem to work as expected. Although the Through Hole has Red and Green swapped compared to the SMD WS2812b LEDs.
First prototypes assembled
Wim Van Gool • 12/10/2019 at 07:32 • 0 comments

All components are in, so it's time to assemble the first prototype.
PCB are in!
Wim Van Gool • 12/10/2019 at 07:29 • 0 comments

AQC deliverded the PCBs. And everything seems to fit! Now it's a matter of waiting for the components to arrive.